Lineage. Constituted as 451 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 19 Jan 1942. Activated on 17 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 11 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 451 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 3 Jul 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 9 Aug 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated as 451 Fighter-Day Squadron on 24 Mar 1954. Activated on 1 Jul 1954. Inactivated on 18 Nov 1957. Redesignated as 451 Flying Training Squadron on 28 Jul 1972. Activated on 1 Apr 1973. Inactivated on 15 Jan 1992. Activated on 2 Oct 2009.
Assignments. 322 Bombardment Group, Medium, 17 Jul 1942-11 Dec 1945. 322 Bombardment Group, Light, 9 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949. 322 Fighter-Day Group, 1 Jul 1954-18 Nov 1957. 323 Flying Training Wing, 1 Apr 1973; 323 Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-15 Jan 1992. 479 Flying Training Group, 2 Oct 2009-.
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 17 Jul 1942; Drane Field, FL, 22 Sep 1942; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 15-23 Nov 1942; Rattlesden, England, 1 Dec 1942; Rougham Airdrome, Bury St Edmunds, England, 22 May 1943; Great Saling (later, Andrews Field), England, 12 Jun 1943; Beauvais/Tille, France, c. 23 Sep 1944; Le Culot, Belgium, 6 Apr 1945; Arolsen, Germany, 26 Jun 1945; Clastres, France, c. 1 Oct-2 Dec 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 9-11 Dec 1945. Reading AAFld (later, Muni Aprt), PA, 9 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949. Foster AFB, TX, 1 Jul 1954-18 Nov 1957 (deployed at Wendover AFB, UT, 3 Jan-4 Feb 1957). Mather AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1973-15 Jan 1992. Pensacola NAS, FL, 2 Oct 2009-.
Commanders. None (not manned), 17 Jul-c. 9 Aug 1942; Lt Col Frederick E. Fair, c. 10 Aug 1942; Maj George B. Simler, 30 May-8 Jul 1944; unkn, 9-11 Jul 1944; Lt Col Henry C. Newcomer, 12 Jul 1944; Maj Charles S. Seamans III, 2 Jun 1945; Capt Richard H. Thomas, c. 16 Jun 1945-unkn. Lt Col James A. Finley, 9 Aug 1947; Maj John B. Ertel, c. Dec 1947-unkn. Unkn, 1 Jul-Oct 1954; Maj William L. Craig, Oct 1954; Maj Andrew J. Ritchey, 1 Apr 1956; Maj Richard F. Kenney, c. 20 Jul-18 Nov 1957. Lt Col James C. Embry, 1 Apr 1973; Maj Donald G. Plummer, 15 Jun 1973; Lt Col John R. Cherrington Jr., c. Jan 1974; Lt Col Robert M. Thompson, 15 Jun 1976; Lt Col Jack G. Wilson, 6 Mar 1978; Lt Col Jimmy D. Carver, 7 Mar 1980; Lt Col Charles F. Bormann, 22 Jun 1982; Lt Col William E. Pecoul, 13 Jul 1982; Lt Col Thomas N. Trotta, 6 Jun 1984; Lt Col James B. Watt, 5 Jun 1986; Lt Col James R. Casteel, 18 Mar 1988; Lt Col W. Stephan Owens, 5 Sep 1989; Lt Col Scott E. Mills, 11 May 1990-15 Jan 1992.
Aircraft. B-26, 1942-1945. AT-6, AT-7 and AT-11, 1947-1949. F-86, 1954-1955; F-100, 1955-1957. T-43, 1973-1992.
Operations. Not operational, Jul-Aug 1942. Trained for combat, 1942-1943. Combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 17 Jul 1943-24 Apr 1945. Transferred aircraft and crews to other units, May 1945. Engaged in disarmament of the German Air Force, Jul-Sep 1945. Served in the organized Reserve, 1947-1949. Performed tactical operations as part of Tactical Air Command, 1954-1957. Provided Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT), 1973-1992.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: European Theater of Operations (ETO), [17 Jul] 1943-24 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr-31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976-28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 Jan 1980-30 Apr 1981.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through Dec 2009.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 15 Jan 1992.
Supersedes statement prepared on 4 Dec 1972.
Emblem. Approved on 30 May 1973.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.